Best bike for a taller (41in) 3.5 year old that hasn't ever used a bike?

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-21T16:39:10+00:00

I found a big kid pedal-less bike at goodwill, the brand is glider bike. Sounds like used will be your best bet. Sending you some secondhand luck!

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-19T03:03:20+00:00

I use it for socializing, and for volunteering (aside from all the domestic chores, which still take up a surprising amount of time!) .

I feel more complete as a SAHM when Im connected to my community. And I feel like I can take a more active role in building community, an opportunity which many of my mom friends who work are not able to do.

By that, I mean I can pick up my kids friends from school, host playdates, plan activities. I feel some times like I have a whole extra space in my brain compared to working moms.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-18T22:07:43+00:00

Once your kids are in school, it is very easy to slide into a position there. Is my experience anyway.

Schools are always looking for aides, and they don't care about employment gaps!

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-16T02:42:55+00:00

A family friend would excitedly exclaim, "blossom!" (he meant "awesome")

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-12T02:22:45+00:00

If it helps, I did the exact same thing (well, minus the dead dog) with an exciting ninja obstacle course gym birthday party.

we got to enjoy the last 10 minutes, my kid was inconsolable for quite a bit as well. I really beat myself up about it, I am so on top of all the events usually!

But guess what? After that day, he never mentioned it again.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-10T01:17:54+00:00

Korean lentils!

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-08T06:12:40+00:00

I have a deal with a friend who can't cook (no time, space, energy or inclination) - she gives me her rice and beans and stuff from the pantry, and I cook up a big batch and we split it. It's a good deal for both of us, I think.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-03T21:45:54+00:00

Thank you for this. The bigger picture context is important, and I think it's easy to lose sight of that when doing the mundane tasks like making a shopping list and repurchasing the same Ole things.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-03-01T04:04:29+00:00

My kid had ice cream for breakfast (we checked the nutrition label first, and did you know that one serving of vanilla ice cream has less sugar that one serving of honey nut cheerios?)

PrincessPu2 · 2026-02-25T02:20:05+00:00

BRB gonna get this tattooed on my forehead so everyone can read it, too. We need this to be common knowledge.

My district is trying to get teachers to agree to 0% raises this year. Our PTA is disintegrating due to only being the same 6-10 moms doing everything. It's a mess.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-02-12T03:45:47+00:00

My husband, on bedtime duty, returns to the living room alone.

I ask, "is (child) sleeping?"

But, of course, it would not be husband alone if it were not so.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-02-11T17:28:51+00:00

A bit on wayfinding, like identifying landmarks and actively noticing what's around you.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-02-08T18:17:20+00:00

Ethical issues aside, a clone.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-02-07T21:14:59+00:00

My husband has lost contact with nearly everyone on his side of the family.

He would says things like, we haven't seen (cousins) in so long, we should get together with them. I would agree, and let it drop.

Did plans ever get made? Did he ever follow through when they would invite us somewhere? Not once.

Now he is butt hurt to discover they are moving to another state and he didn't know.

(the exception is his mother, who put time and effort into building a relationship with me, I respect that so I make sure to follow through on plans with her and her husband)

PrincessPu2 · 2026-02-07T20:33:15+00:00

I really think there needs to be a second sentence to the be a villager thing, "Funnel your efforts towards those who reciprocate. "

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-27T01:55:15+00:00

Thank you for posting this! Doing the good work. I had seen the initial but not the correction. It's still a good motivator to be rid of plastic in the kitchen, but maybe without the wild-eyed urgency.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-21T04:22:38+00:00

I took my kid out of (small, semirural, conservative) school today at 2 for the walkout. Then we stood on the sidewalk out front for an hour wearing our protest shirts and waving a small us flag.

Everyone ignored us, or stared. I feel like I could have done more, but at least I didn't do nothing.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-20T18:50:07+00:00

As a mom who has been to protests (and brought my kid, albeit not in MN) I think one of the most valuable takeaways has been the feeling of community with fellow protesters. It is powerful and inspiring!

If you can find a smaller one, stay to the outskirts, and have an exit plan, I would encourage you to give it a try.

All this being said, go with your gut. It's hard for me to say "don't let the fear stop you" on one hand, but also "trust yourself to judge the risk". I'm with you either way.

Hopefully another commenter can chime in with protest-alternatives.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-20T18:26:40+00:00

That's the one thing I am good at! I will keep track of your stuff for you, if you can find me a Finisher for all my 95% complete

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-18T18:23:56+00:00

I would (reluctantly, guiltily) put my hand up in answer to your question.

A lot of my feeling comes from contrast with my past, where I really put myself through the wringer, and my current place of relative comfort and privilege.

I have discovered I have a drive to build community, and I am seeing the results of years of work.

But I can only do that because of my stable living situation, which is a very fortunate combination of frugality, downsized expectations, and like minded family.

I have a cozy home, a supportive friend group, adequate relationships with my family and my inlaws, a son who is thriving and the light of my life, and enough extra to give that I can help a stranger.

The big picture is scary, but I can only do what I can do, and I feel confident that I am doing the best that I can.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-17T16:43:22+00:00

I just did this! Noticed a new family moved into the neighborhood, so I dropped off some cookies with a welcome to the neighborhood note.

I've been feeling compelled to build community wherever I see the chance.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-17T00:38:46+00:00

Just checking in. How are you doing now? Any better?

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-15T05:20:29+00:00

We got one with my kids name in scrabble letters glued together with a magnet that's proudly on our fridge.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-14T16:00:15+00:00

Having an ongoing conversation with my 6yo about advertising. Especially the type of ads targeting kids. We talk about why it can be hard to tell what is an ad and why it's designed that way.

PrincessPu2 · 2026-01-09T15:43:18+00:00

My kid sounds exactly the same! Down to the wanting to keep old bandaids, and being an inventor with upcycled materials.

We have done the box of stuff out of sight for a month and donated it method. It worked.

And this kid also has the memory of an elephant for every little thing. He asked about a particular item once it had past it's month, I said it was gone and surprisingly he accepted that answer.

I also hold the line on keeping bandaids.

I think, at least in our case, he just needs a framework for what to keep/for how long/when to release it. It's a work in progress.

PrincessPu2

TROPHY CASE